Relevance of Adequate Sewage disposal on Disease Prevalence Amongst Sub-urban Communities in Delta State: a Case of Uvwie

Abstract

The study investigated Relevance of Adequate Sewage disposal on Disease
Prevalence Amongst Sub-urban Communities in Delta State: a Case of Uvwie. The
study used combined expo-factor and survey research designs, collecting medical
case reports from Uvwie and distributing questionnaires to five communities. The
dataset included medical records from the Central Hospital in Ekpan from 2023.
The questionnaires were distributed using systematic sampling to ensure coverage.
A total of 180 questionnaires were distributed evenly across five communities, with
36 per community and each fifth building. The data was analysed with Multiple
Regression. The physicochemical properties of sewage discharged in a specific area
revealed the ability of disease-causing microorganisms to grow rapidly. These may
infect nearby populations. The most common illness was diarrhoea, and the least
common was typhoid. Diarrhoea is common in Effurun, but dysentery is unlikely,
whereas dysentery is prevalent in Uviwe. The study found a significant correlation
(P<0.05) between indiscriminate sewage disposal and disease prevalence in Uvwie
(R-value = 0.799). The study attributed 64% of disease prevalence to
indiscriminate disposal and 36% to climate. The indiscriminate disposal of sewage
contributes to the spread of diseases. Approximately 48.9% of survey respondents
believe sewage causes breathing problems. Furthermore, 45% of respondents
recommend treating sewage before disposal, while 17.8% suggest cleaning gutters.
The study emphasises the importance of effective sewage disposal management
and makes recommendations for improving regulatory agencies, enforcement
mechanisms, and agency-Public Health Department collaboration.